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Clayton board approves removing four parking spaces on Gay Avenue to improve sight lines
Summary
The Board of Aldermen voted unanimously to adopt Ordinance Bill 7059, removing four parking spaces on Gay Avenue after staff and neighbors raised safety and visibility concerns at driveways and the University Drive intersection.
The Clayton Board of Aldermen voted unanimously March 3 to adopt Bill 7059, an ordinance removing four on-street parking spaces on Gay Avenue to improve sight distance near University Drive and adjacent residential driveways.
City Manager David Gibson told the board the ordinance was revised after the Feb. 25 meeting to remove “four specific parking spaces to improve site visibility and safety,” identifying one space south of the driveway, two north of the driveway and one north of University Drive. The change was presented as a compromise following public discussion and an earlier staff recommendation that proposed removing more spaces.
Ward aldermen and city staff said the primary issue is sight distance for residents exiting the new townhomes and for drivers approaching Gay Field and the high school area. One alderman who represents the nearby ward described the egress from the townhomes as “very difficult” when cars fill the street and said removing the spaces is a “no brainer” for safety.
Matt Malekar, director of public works, confirmed that the revised ordinance reflects the board’s recommendation and that two-hour residential parking signs recently were installed to limit all-day parking. Malekar said the city will step up parking ambassador patrols during a short education period after the signs were reinstalled.
Aldermen discussed separating sight-distance fixes from any potential traffic-calming measures such as speed studies. City staff and the police department plan to conduct speed testing after spring break to determine whether additional traffic calming is warranted.
Bill 7059 amends Table 3A and Table 3I (Schedule 3) of Title 3 of the Clayton City Code to reflect the new parking restriction locations. After the ordinance was read for the time by title, the board gave unanimous consent to consider and adopt the bill the same night. The roll-call votes recorded in the minutes show the aldermen present voting in favor and Mayor Harris voting aye.
The ordinance takes effect as provided by the city code; staff said they will monitor the block after changes are implemented and return with further recommendations if needed.
The vote came after residents and nearby property representatives spoke during the meeting; the transcript records no formal amendments to the text beyond the staff rewrite that reflected the board’s earlier direction.
